Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-09-24

1yE.t"h' ino prayer was Quile lengthy.
When the Bishop had concluded, General
Sheridan, with his aides, followed closely
by Cardinal Gibbons and number Of
Catholic cergymen, marched down tho
aisle, and were heartily chcered.
When they had been seated the Hon,
John A. kasson made the Introductory adj
dress Of the day. He referred briefly tbth6
object OF the celebration, aud reviewed the
progress of affairs during the past century,
Cardinal Gibbons, clad in official vcstments,
sat at the side OF the speaker, and was one
OF the most attentive listeners. AT the con-
clusion OF Mr.. Kasson's address, the chorus
sang appeal to Truth"
The President then delivered the follow
ing brief speech. He received thundcrs Of
applause.
I deem 1t avery great honor and pleasure TO
participate in these impressive exercises
Every American citizen should on this Crntcn.
nal dat RI uoe in his citizenship. He will rot
iinn The cpuSc OF his rejoicing IN the anti uity
Of his country, for among the nations OF tho
earth his stands with the Youngest. He wit
not find 1t In the glitter and the pomD inst be.
deck monarch and dazzle abjTs>ln seails
subjects, for IN his country N. people tirul.
selves are rulers. He will not find 1t In the
story of blOOdy foreign conQuCsts, for his gov.
ernpent has been content 10 care for its Oyn
domain and people.
He should rejoice because the work OF fran.
ing our Constitution was completed one hun.
dred years Ngo today and also because when
completed itCstablshed a free government He
should rejoice because this constitution and
government have survived so long, and also be-
cause they have survived with so many blcS.
sings, and have demonstrated SO fully the
strength and value Of popular rule. lie should
rejoice in the wOndrouS growth and achieve.
ments Of the one hundred years, and also in the
glorious promise of the Constitution through
centuries to come.
We shall fail to be duly thankful for all that
WINS done for lis one hundred years ago, unless
we realize the difficulties Of the work then in
hand and the dangers avoided IN the task OF
forming "a more perfect UNION between dis
ioint-i and inhannQnous States, with interests
and opinions radically diverse and stuUomy
maintained.
The pcrplc yities OF the convention which I'm.
dCrtook 'hn labor OF preparing our Constitution
air apparent in these earnest words Of one Of
the most illustrious of It's members; The small
progress We have made after rur or five weeks
of close attendance and continued rcaeonin
with each other, our different sentiments on
almost every QucstlOu--scvcral of tho last pro.
duciag rs many noes as yeas is, mcthinls, a
melancholy proof Of the impcrfeCtion Of the
human understanding we indeed seem TO fee
our own want ofpOliic0l wisdom, since wehayt
been running about in search Of II. We have
gone back TO ancient history tor models Of GOV
eminent and examined the different forms OF
those republics which having been fOrmcdWitH
the seeds Of their own dissolution, now no
longer exist. In this situation Of this assembly
cropping as it were in the dark to find political
truth. and scarce able to distinguish 1t when
presented to us, how has it happened, sir that
we have not heretofore once thought Of humhly
applying to the Father Of light to illuminate our
uudcrstaudingsT And this wise man, propOs
ing TO his fellows that the nidand blessing Of
God should he invoked in their extremity, de-
clared; II have lived, sir long lime, and the
longer live the more convincing proofs see Of
the truth that God governs in the affairs ofmcn.
And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground with
out His notice is it probable that an empire can
rise WITHOUT His adt We have been assured,
sir, in the sacred Wr inps that except the Lord
build the house, they labor In vain that build it,
firmly believe this; and also believe that
without HI. cOrcurring aid we shall succeed in
this political building no better than the buili'
ing Of Babel We shall be divided by our litto
partial. local interests, our projects VIII be con-
founded and we ourselves shall become re-
proach ana bywoS down to future ages and,
what is worse mankind may hereafter, from
this unfortunate instance, despair Of establish
ing governments by human wisdom and leave ii
to chance. war and conquest
In the fHce ofHll dsCouragcments, the fathers
Of the Republic labored OH for four long. weary
months in alternate hope and fear, but always
with ragged resolve, rover iatcFlng in a st'r1v
endeayor Sancthed by prophetic sense of tho
value topostcrity of their success, and always
with unNinChing faith IN the principles which
make the foundation Of a government by the
people At last their task was done, ii is re-.
lated that upon The back Of the chair occupied
hy Washington. as the president Of the conyen.
ton a sun was painted, and that rs the dele
gates were signing the completed Constitution,
one OF them said; II have often and often in
the course Of the session, and IN the Solctudt
Of my hopes and fears as TO its issue. looked at
that behind the President without being able to
tell whether II was rlsint or setting. Hut now
at length know that il is rising and not set
ting sun.
We stand to-day on the spot whcro this rising
sun emerged from political night and darkness;
and in its own bright meridian Light we marx
its glorious way. Clouds have sometimes OBJ
scured is rays, and dreadful storms have made
MS fear; but God has held II in us course ana
through its hferving warmth has been per-
formed his latest miracle in the creation OF this
wOndrous land and people
As we look down the past century 10 the or
igjn Of our Constitution, nS we contemplate us
trials and its lrlumphs, as we re NE now conf
plctcy the principles upon which 1t Is based
have met every national peril and every national
need, how deyoutly should we confess, WIN
Franklin God governs in the affairs OF men.
and how solemn should be the reflection ina, 10
our hands is committed this ark OF the people $
covenant and that ours is the duty to shield 1t
from fmpious hands We receive it sealed with
the tests Of q century. II has been found SUM
cirnt IN the past and IN all the future years u
viii be found sufficient If the American people
are true to their sacred trust.
Another Centennial day Will come, ana mil
lion, vet unborn will inquire concerning our
stewardship and the safety OF their Constitution;
| God grant that they may find it unmpaircd, ana
as we rejoice IN the patriotism ana devotion oil
! those who lived n hundred years ago so may
| others who follow us rejoice in our hdchty ana
| in our Jealous love for constitutional liberty,
The Old Liberty Bel rang out the midday
! hour, and at every stroke of the bell there
was a round of applause This incident oc-
| Cnrred when the President was in the md'
| die of his speech and he was obliged TO
tpause for few seconds The sight was,
| indeed, an impressive one, rs the Presl'
| dent stood there with uncovered mead,
awaiting the plaudlts OF oer'y-loving
| people IN honor of the bell which tirst an
| nounced their freedom. 1t was about l!:Oo
! when the President finished.
| While the applause was still going on inc
| chorus broke INTO patriotic air, and the
din was terrific. When quiet was restored
! United States Supreme Justice Miller
stepped to the front and began the delivery
of his Grafton. He held his audience spell
bound, and was followed with rapt atten'
ton. He read his address from manu-.
script. lie described briefly the work OF
| forming the Constitution and the oDJcc'
tons made to the drawing up OF the instrU'
mont. He also touched on the mode OF sc,
| lectmg United States Senators. He closed
his address with recitation OF a quotation
| from Chancellor Kent, as follows:
"Thc government Of the United states
was created by the free voice and lointwl
| of the pccple of America, for their common
| defense and general welfare, It's powers
Apply to those great interests which relate
| to this country in its national capacity ana
which depend for their stability and protec'
| ton on the consolidation of the Union. II
! is clothed with the principal attributes OF
sovereignty, and is justly deemed tha
| guardian of our best rights. the source CT
| our highest civil and political duties, ana
the sure means of our national greatness,
Justice Miller's address consumed one
hour and ten minutes. The new National
| Hymn, which was contributed by, +.
| Marion Hart, was then rcclted by frol.
Murdoch, with chorus OF 200 mems voices
Shortly before two o'clock President
| Kasson took the arm of Cardinal Gibbons
| and led him to the front OF the stand. Alter
| bowling to the people in front OF the sta I'd
| the Cardinal turned slowly around 10 where
| the President sat and in clear voice
offered an impressive prayer.
Atthe conclusion the band played the
| 'S,ar-Spangled Banner" An impressive
| benediction was pronounced by the Key,
| Jere Witherspoon, OF NashVille. ms con-
| cluded the ceremonies.
After the stand was cleared the Prcsi
dent and Mrs. Cleveland entered n car
riage aud proceeded to their hotel the
| President attended dinner given by the
| Hibernian Society at three o'clock and
Mrs. Cleveland went to Woolton, tho coun
| try seat of George w, Chllds, to attend o
| fete given in her honor
| A meeting of the Governors OF the States
to consider the question Of erecting mon